Bud Kaeding Tops Mopar Sprint Car Nationals

Thursday, October 13, 2005

Bud Kaeding of Campbell, Calif., notched his first USAC Valvoline National Sprint Car Series victory of the season. (Harold Hinson photo)

Third-generation sprint car driver
Bud Kaeding of Campbell, Calif., notched his first USAC Valvoline National
Sprint Car Series victory of the season Wednesday night during the third
annual Mopar Sprint Car Nationals at The Dirt Track @ Charlotte Motor Speedway.

The 25-year-old Kaeding started outside the front row and chased
NASCAR Busch Series competitor and former USAC sprint car champion J.J.
Yeley for five laps before taking command in the 30-lap event.

Once in front, Kaeding held on through five caution periods for
minor incidents to claim the $5,000 first-place prize. The No. 29 Kaeding
drove to victory is owned by NASCAR Busch Series competitor and former USAC
racer Jason Leffler.

"I can't say enough about my team," said Kaeding who is fourth in
series points despite struggling during the summer months. "I wish we had a
lot more of these. We have seven races left this year so maybe this is a
good sign for the end of the season."

Kaeding's only challenge during the final half of the race came when
Jay Drake of Val Verde, Calif., drove up beside him on a restart.

"I kind of fell asleep there for a little bit," Kaeding explained.
"I didn't know who was on the outside of me, so I had to turn it up and get
back out front.

The two Mopar-sponsored cars owned by 2002 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup
champion Tony Stewart finished second and third with Josh Wise of Riverside,
Calif., claiming runner-up honors while Drake settled for the show money.

Yeley slipped back to fourth with Jon Stanbrough completing the top
five.

Series point leader Levi Jones, chasing his fourth consecutive
feature victory, suffered mechanical woes and ended up 11th after making two
visits to the pit area. Despite the problems, Jones held his ground in the
title fight as his closest rival, Dave Darland, exited early with smoke
pouring from his No. 11.

Jerry Coons Jr. topped the 21-car field in time trials with a track
record lap of 14.323 seconds around the four-tenths-mile clay oval while
Coons Jr., Darren Hagen and Darland topped the eight-lap heat races.

Daron Clayton and Tom Hessert flipped during hot laps and Jesse
Hockett rode out a tumble after hitting the Turn 2 wall during time trials.
None of the drivers were injured.

Ricky Weeks of Rutherfordton, N.C., charged from the 11th starting
spot to win the 25-lap finale for the late model stock cars of the Dixie
Thunder Series.

Dennis Franklin started from the pole and led the early laps as
Weeks methodically worked through the pack. Weeks made his winning move on
lap 13, forcing Franklin to settle for second. Furman Parton ended up third.

The eight-lap late model heat races were won by Franklin, Wayne
Dellinger, Robbie Bailey and Ray Dockery.

The Mopar Sprint Car Nationals kicked off UAW-GM Quality 500 Week
which concludes Saturday night with round five of the 10-race Chase for the
NASCAR NEXTEL Cup at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

The next event at The Dirt Track @ Charlotte Motor Speedway is the Bank
of America presents the World Short-Track Championships Oct. 28-29. Tickets
can be purchased online here or by calling
1-800-455-FANS.